Evaluation committees Wednesday hashed out plans for a new classroom building at West St. John Elementary and repairs at Garyville/Mt. Airy Math and Science Magnet School.

Concerns ranged from improving the air quality at Garyville to the design of multiuse common areas and the fate of an old asbestos-walled building at West St. John.

Plans call for a new two-story classroom building at West St. John and repairing the air-conditioning system, improving drainage and adding a baseball field at Garyville.

The work is part of a 10-year, $46 million capital improvements program approved by voters last year.

The evaluation committees were formed to provide suggestions to architects and engineers, and include principals, administrators and St. John the Baptist Parish School Board members.

The joint venture of Billes Architecture and Grace and Hebert Architects on Wednesday showed options for the new building at West St. John. It will replace the school's main classroom building.

The new building and other renovations will cost about $9.4 million.

The new building will include classrooms for grades one through seven, two computer labs, multigrade science rooms, and smaller rooms and offices for counseling, small group and individual instruction, nursing services and other uses.

In some plans, architects proposed open areas along halls, equipped with sinks and spaces that teachers could use as science and art classrooms. Grade levels were grouped around the areas for a "neighborhood" concept, program consultant Kevin Chenevert said.

Schools Superintendent Courtney Millet, who is a member of all the committees, questioned whether the spaces would cause a distraction to students in adjacent classrooms.

Architects also proposed tearing down a building that houses a band classroom and a parent center. The plan, however, could mean the band would have to use the school's old middle school classroom building. That building has asbestos-paneled walls.

The building would be used by students for only a short period, Chenevert said, but School Board member Russell Jack, who represents the west bank, objected to the idea.

"That's why we were begging for a new school, " he said, so that the middle school building would no longer be needed.

At Garyville, plans include replacing broken classroom air conditioners and installing hallway systems that put more fresh air into the school.

The school was built before more stringent building standards were established, architect Samuel Herpin said. Herpin's company, Remson-Haley-Herpin Architects, is designing the renovations.

Other improvements would include repairing the school's fire alarm, replacing keys and locks, and installing a new intercom to improve school safety and security.

Preliminary estimates for the work were about $80,000 over the $1 million budget, meaning some improvements would be done only if money is available, consultant Abby Lacourse said.